Rail minister Jo Johnson resigns over Brexit

Rail minister Jo Johnson has announced his resignation from government.

In a minute-long video posted to Twitter, Johnson confirmed that he has handed in his resignation to prime minister Theresa May.

Citing an “incoherent Brexit” as the reason for his departure, Johnson said he felt that the difference between promises made during the referendum and the prime minister’s Brexit deal were so great he had no choice but to resign.

“Britain stands on the brink of the greatest crisis since the Second World War,” Johnson said in a written statement attached to his tweet.

“I have never rebelled on any issue before now. But my duty to my constituents and our great nation has forced me to act. I have today written to the prime minister asking her to accept my resignation from the government.”

Johnson’s announcement brings the total number of Conservative MPs to resign over Brexit to 11, with others including his brother, Boris Johnson the former foreign secretary, David Davis the former secretary of state for exiting the European Union and Chris Green, previously parliamentary private secretary to the Department for Transport.

Johnson used the last paragraph of his statement to declare support for second referendum: “It is now my intention to vote against this Withdrawal Agreement. I reject this false choice between the PM’s deal and “no deal” chaos. On this most crucial of questions, I believe it is entirely right to go back to the people and ask them to confirm their decision to leave the EU and, if they choose to do that, to give them the final say on whether we leave with the Prime Minister’s deal or without it.”

“To do anything less will do grave damage to our democracy,” Johnson said.

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